Swearing fealty

Caval approached the princess after the funeral and bowed deeply before her. "My deepest condolences about your father," he said. "As the head of the guard, I regret that I was not better able to protect him. I offer you my deepest apologies."

The princess looked down at the knight, her face drawn and composed, long since trained to hide her emotions in public. Gently, she laid her hand upon the knight's shoulder. "It was not your fault that my father fell in battle," she assured him. "It is the way that he wanted to go, in a blaze of glory. He brought his own end upon himself."

Caval stood up straight and nodded in solemn agreement. "You are wise beyond your years, your highness. Moving forward, I pray that that wiseness carries on in your decisions. In the current conditions of the kingdom, you will have to take on great responsibilities. I wish to offer you my services as you may need them going forward."

Instantly, the princess' composure fell, and the gentle smile that had graced her face was replaced with a bitter glare. "Is that so?" she asked venomously. "And what, pray tell, are you to gain by offering me your services?"

Caval blinked, surprised by the sudden bitterness. "Excuse me?" he asked, confusion clear in his voice. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

The princess rolled her eyes. "I have already been approached three times today by men offering me their 'services' in hopes of gaining the wealth and power of the royal family. I am not interested in marriage, Sir Caval. As the head guard, your services should already be mine. So why are you now offering them to me?"

Caval stood upright, looking down at the princess. "I am not your guard, your highness," he stated flatly. "I was your father's, and I vowed to him that I would protect him and his family. Seeing as he is no longer with us, I merely wish to renew that vow with you. If, however, my services are no longer desired among the royal family, I am sure that I can find others who would be appreciative of them."

The princess looked up into the knight's eyes, challenging his statement, but found him unwilling. Slowly her face softened. "You will swear yourself to me?"

Caval kneeled down before the princess, in plain view of the other members of royalty and the guard who had remained in the vicinity. "I will swear myself to you, Princess Fleur, your family, and your wellbeing. I will do all that is within my power to protect you, and aid you as is fit of my position. If you are desiring of my advice, my company, or my strength, I will swear to always be available to you."

Fleur smiled gently and placed her hand once more on Caval's shoulder. "Thank you, Sir Caval," she said. "It is good to know that there are still some honest men in this kingdom."